Effect of Phosphorus levels with and without Phosphate solubilizing bacteria on growth, yield and quality of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) L.

A field experiment entitled “Effect of phosphorus levels with and without phosphate solubilizing bacteria on growth, yield and quality of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) in semi-arid region of South-Eestern Rajasthan was conducted during Kharif season of 2021 at the Experimental Farm of Agronomy, Mewar University, Gangrar, Chittorgarh (Rajasthan). The experiment consists of eight treatments, levels of phosphorus with and without PSB viz., 0, 20, 40 and 60 kg P2O5 ha-1, PSB, 20 kg P2O5 ha-1+PSB, 40 kg P2O5 ha-1 +PSB and 60 kg P2O5 ha-1 +PSB replicated four times laid down in RBD. Cowpea variety Pratap RC-19 was used with seed rate 15 kg ha-1. Growth attributes viz., plant height at 60 DAS and at harvest responded with 40 kg P2O5 ha-1 except 30 DAS where it responded with 60 kg P2O5 ha-1 over control. Primary and secondary branches per plant, number of trifoliate leaf of cowpea statistically significantly responded up to 40 kg P2O5. ha-1 at harvest. Similarly, root nodule number at 45 DAS responded up to 40 kg P2O5. ha-1 whereas nodule dry weight was responded up to 60 kg P2O5. ha-1 at 45 DAS over 40 kg, 20 kg P2O5 ha-1 and control. Yield attributing characters namely number of pods per plant and pod length were perceptibly increase, ed by application of 40 kg P2O5. ha-1 over 20 kg P2O5 ha-1 and control. Further, application of 60 kg P2O5 ha-1 remained statistically at par in enhancing yield attributes. 1000-grain weight, seeds per pod and harvest index was significantly higher up to 20 kg P2O5 ha-1 and control. Grain, straw and biological yields of cowpea perceptibly increased with the application of 40 kg and 60 kg P2O5. ha-1 but the higher dose of 60 kg P2O5 ha-1 remained statistically at par with 40 kg P2O5 ha-1. Improvement in N content both in grain and straw, P content in straw and K content both in grain and straw, protein content in grain and grain protein yield was significantly improved up to 40 kg P2O5. ha-1. P content in grain was responded with 60 kg P2O5 ha-1. Similarly, NPK uptake by both grain and straw and total uptake of nutrients (NPK)Nwas increased significantly under 40 kg P2O5. ha-1 over 20 kg P2O5 ha-1 and control. The dose of 60 kg P2O5 ha-1 remained statistically at par with 40 kg P2O5. ha-1 in enhancing gross and net returns and B:C over 20 kg P2O5 ha-1 and control.